Jail assault investigated

Victim transferred to another jail; charges withheld until evidence goes to grand jury

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office is investigating the assault of an inmate in the Detention Center that has resulted is several suspects being placed in lockdown and the victim being treated and then transported to a different holding facility.

The victim was a member of a work program that is allowed to leave the jail under supervision to pick up trash along county rights-of-way. Sheriff Smith said the altercation between the victim and other inmates involved contraband being smuggled back into the jail.

“As long as you have people going in and out of the jail, there will be contraba...